This year the Virginia Society AIA has added five categories: General Design, Historic Preservation, Interior Design, Contextual Designor the 2013 Awards for Excellence in Architecture.  (All projects must have been completed or commissioned as of 2008. See the more detailed description of each category below.) Entrants will identify the category for which a project is submitted in the registration documentation. Projects may be submitted in multiple categories with a separate PDF submission and fee payment for each category. Submissions are to be in PDF format and include one page of written description and five pages of illustration. Illustration pages may contain multiple images—plans, sections, axonometrics, details, renderings, and photographs with credits—and captions at the submitters discretion.

Awards certificates are presented each November at Architecture Exchange East, the Virginia Society’s annual conference. They are also honored during the Visions for Architecture gala, in Inform magazine, and serve as the subject of an annual exhibition at the Virginia Center for Architecture.

All entries must be the work of licensed architects who have an office in Virginia OR are members (including associate members) of the Virginia Society of the AIA.

The timeline schedule for the 2013 Awards Program:

Entries are due June 28.

Project submissions are due electronically July 26.

The fee schedule for the 2013 awards program is:

Virginia Society AIA Members—$190 for the first project and $160 for each additional project

Not a Virginia Society AIA Member, but with an office in Virginia—$245 for the first project and $215 for each additional project

Virginia Society AIA Associate Members—$80 for all projects

Contextual Design

Buildings do not exist in isolation. The Award for Contextual Design recognizes outstanding architecture that perceptibly reflects the history, culture, and physical environment of the place in which it stands and that, in turn, contributes to the function, beauty, and meaning of its larger context. Evaluation criteria include:

• Does the design contribute to the fabric of the surrounding physical context through tangible qualities such as scale, form, materials, and architectural vocabulary?
• Does the design demonstrate an understanding of the history and culture of the place and embrace traditions relevant to its context?
• Does the design creatively embody the identity or mission of the client?

Requirements for submission should include a description of the context and how this context is reflected in the design, as well as images (photographs or drawings; at least two) that distinctly reveal the surrounding context of the project.

Residential Design

Aesthetic appeal and functionality are two long-established criteria for home design. More frequently, especially in the last several years, families have also been looking for affordability and resource efficiency. The jury will focus on the issues of:

• Design that suits the needs of the home owner or resident, regardless of any particular style, and is easily maintained, filled with adequate natural light and fresh air, energy and water efficient, and is universally accessible.
• Community building, in that the residence is well-sited with respect to views and amenities such as transit, shopping, recreation, and congregation.

Submissions should include a description of the sustainability and community-building programmatic aspects of the residence, interior and exterior photographs, plans, and/or drawings, and a site plan.

Architecture

Designers may submit projects of all types (including residential) for consideration in the Architecture category. In their deliberations, the jury will consider aesthetics, adherence to the client program, proven and projected building performance, and concept development. As with all categories, entrants will submit a project description and five pages of illustration, each of which may contain plans, sections, renderings, photographs, and captions, as the entrant deems suitable to describe the outstanding elements of the project.

Historic Preservation

The Historic Preservation category focuses specifically on excellence in strategies, tactics, and technologies that advance the art, craft, and science of preserving historically significant buildings and sites. The jury will also take into consideration adherence to local, state, and national criteria for historic preservation.

Interior Design

Interior Design projects of distinction will evince mastery of composition, functionality, material and color palettes, and well-integrated adherence to the highest levels of accessibility, health and safety, environmental, and occupant-comfort considerations, standards, and regulations. Submissions will highlight accommodation of project goals, including the client’s specific programmatic requirements, in a single page of text supplemented with five pages of illustrations in PDF format.

The Juries

The juries for each of the five categories comprise architects, educators, and related professionals working outside the Middle Atlantic region who are well-recognized for their work pertaining to their particular categories. Jury chairs will be highlighted in an upcoming Design Awards announcement.

The post VSAIA Awards Categories for 2013 appeared first on VSAIA.

Building Code App Under Consideration
Technological advances provide smart-phone applications for just about everything anyone can imagine, up to and including up-to-date code inspection results on construction projects. More>>

Patent Rolling May Roll Over Unsuspecting Firms
A practice referred to as “patent rolling” may be trying to roll over unsuspecting architecture firms, according to a notice from the AIA’s general counsel. More>>

Call for Nominations: Honors Awards
The VSAIA Honors program is accepting nominations for Virginians who exemplify the profession’s highest ideals and who are committed to enriching the built environment. More>>

Building Code Timeline
The seeming interminable review of the latest building code is nearing completion, which means the public hearing portion of the 12- to 18-month process is nigh. More>>

Time to Update the Member Directory
The call for submission forms for the 2013-2014 VSAIA Architecture Firm and Member directories went out recently. Please send your updated listing back at your earliest convenience. If you did not receive the email—or even if you’re just not sure—please contact Shanelle Calvin

The post VSAIA News: May 2013 appeared first on VSAIA.

Robert Lingo of Virginia Tech submitted the winning entry.

The annual Virginia Society AIA Prize competition was held over the weekend of Feb. 1-4, 2013.  This year’s competition has a new partner and Corporate Sponsor, the Virginia Housing Development Authority, who collaborated with faculty from Virginia Tech’s Washington Alexandria Architecture Center to develop the competition program brief.  Students in Virginia’s architecture schools were given the program Friday at 5 p.m.  The students worked over the weekend to create a board presenting their design solution by 9 a.m. Monday morning.

The 2013 Prize program asked the students to propose a design for a mixed-use fire station combined with dwelling units for the Beauregard neighborhood in Alexandria.

From the program:

“The building should consider the well-being of the community, enhancing a sense of place by designing this mixed use building for dwelling and fire protection. Mixed-use/mixed-income developments are important in the revitalization of older communities, complementing existing communities, traditionally designed in proximity of housing to goods, services, transportation and jobs. Giving new life to older communities such as Beauregard will come about by introducing new dwellings and protections (such as a fire station) to these communities. In this design competition you are asked to consider the powerful qualities of both fire and dwelling as you devise a design that reaches beyond pragmatic and efficient means. Your design should emphasize the power of home and fire while creating a potential for happiness, comfort, and security within this new community.”

Faculty from the schools (Hampton University, Virginia Tech WAAC, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, and the University of Virginia) reviewed all the submitted boards and selected ten finalists from each school to send to the Society.  The jury, chaired by Mary Patton Cox, FAIA, met in April to select this year’s winner as well as Best of School boards from each of the remaining schools.

The 2013 Virginia Society AIA Prize Winner is Robert Lingo of Virginia Tech

From the jury:

“We liked the way this entry takes the program from the abstract to the real, all in one board.  We liked the use of the foundry, combining a positive use of fire with a firefighting facility.  We also liked the varying scales, both macro and micro.  This entrant clearly thought beyond the scope of the problem, incorporating a community outreach component, into their solution.  The board is also a nicely designed composition.  Anyone can understand the presentation techniques.”

Best of School WAAC – Liz M. Fibleuil

From the jury:

“We liked the bold expression of fire, and the bold strokes of the presentation.  The entry takes an intangible and gives it three-dimensional expression in the forms and floor plan.  The use of color in the board is very vivid, as is the use of text in the descriptions of the design concepts.  The concept was conveyed well and well executed; we understood what they were trying to say.”

Best of School Hampton University – Alvin L. Mendoza

From the jury:

“This was a project that truly integrates the sense of community into the complex.  Not a traditional fire station per se, but that is partly what makes it remarkable.  It’s an iconic structure which is tied into the community and integrates the programmatic elements.  We liked the lyrical illustration of licks of flame, which is a creative interpretation.”

Honorable Mention – Kevin Gerrity, Virginia Tech

From the jury:

“We understand that this is not really a practical solution, but we liked the strong conceptual design, especially the components that can be plugged in as needed… very adaptable! The design of the board is lovely, very striking. The imagery is quite alluring, it draws you to it. Even the text box lines up with the residential floor plans. The section and floor plans describe it very well. A strong idea.”

The Virginia Society AIA Prize is sponsored by the Virginia Housing Development Authority.

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The Department of Housing and Community Development begins in June its negotiations for the publishing of the 2012 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.  In addition to publishing the code, the International Code Council could provide such modern apps.  For what should DHCD negotiate?

Please send any ideas, input or recommendations to Cindy Davis at cindy.davis@dhcd.virginia.gov.

What tools would help you do your job?  Whether from compliance, design, or construction standpoint, today’s technology and tools are changing, and DHCD would like to be able to provide the products that will most benefit its client groups.

DHCD hopes to negotiate and provide some of these new services or products, or at least encourage their development. If you can imagine it, send it.  This can be as complex as mobile apps for inspections that include a checklist, video, photo or commentary of code requirements when you click on them from your tablet or smart phone. If it will benefit you and your jurisdiction, DHCD wants to know.

The post Building Code App Under Consideration appeared first on VSAIA.

The review schedule published by the Department of Housing and Community Development in January lists July 1 as the final date for code change submissions.  The first public hearing will be Sept. 23 this year and September of 2014 as the effective date of the 2012 code.

From the beginning — with the publishing of the 2012 family of codes by the International Code Council in the spring of 2012 — to the final implementation in Virginia, the model codes have been turned inside out and upside down by volunteers from many organizations including the Virginia Building and Code Officials Association and the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects.

Once again, as he has since October 2000, Kenney Payne, AIA, led the reviews of the building code for the VSAIA.  And for several years in a row, James Snowa, AIA, and Megan Shope, AIA, provided the expertise to guide the evolution of the residential code for the VSAIA and the public.

The in-house reviews were an innovation by the late Jack Proctor, Hon. VSAIA.  He sought the advice and expertise from architects, home builders, building owners and managers, product manufacturers, and other interested groups to make the review process as thorough as possible.  This open, deliberative process was continued by Emory Rodgers, who succeeded Proctor as director of the division of building regulation at DHCD.

The next steps in the code’s adoption will be publication in the Virginia Register this summer with the public hearing in the fall.  Final regulations will be approved by the Board of DHCD in late 2013 or early 2014 prior to being sent to the capitol for administrative approval.

Final regulations are scheduled to be published in the July 2014 Virginia Register with September 2014 expected to be the codes’ effective date.  In the past, local building officials have allowed a grace period for projects under way prior to the latest code implementation.  Architects should confer with local officials to determine whether a project’s design under a current code is far enough along to be reviewed under the older rather than the newest code.

By the same token, architects also should confer with local building officials if they wish to design under an as-yet-unapproved code.  If the approval process is in its final stages, designing to the newer standards could be beneficial.

The post Building Code Timeline appeared first on VSAIA.

2012 VSAIA President, Lori Garrett, AIA, presents the 2012 Noland Award to Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA

Do you have an extraordinary colleague? Do you know an organization working to support architects or the built environment in Virginia? The VSAIA Honors program is accepting nominations for Virginians who exemplify the profession’s highest ideals and who are committed to enriching the built environment.

Nominations should be submitted electronically as one PDF document up to 20 pages (not including letters of support), and no larger than 50 MB.

If you have any questions, or if you are having trouble uploading your nomination, please contact rgeorge@aiava.org or (804) 644-3041, ext. 302. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 19, 2013.To see the evaluative criteria, submission materials, and a list of past honorees, visit the Society Honors page and click the award name.

The submitter should be prepared to provide unrestricted high-resolution images to be used in connection with publicity of the program and the recognition of the honorees at Architecture Exchange East on Nov. 6–8, and at Visions for Architecture on Nov. 8.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Honors program. If you know of an organization that is interested in supporting Virginia architects, please share the benefits or encourage them contact Rhea George for more information.

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The firms first are sent a letter explaining that they may be using scanner/copier technology that infringes upon a patent. The letter states that if the firm would kindly pay a licensing fee of $900 to $1,200 per employee, the patent owner will provide a license.

If no response, a second letter is sent from a law firm of Farley Daniels in Texas. If no response, a third letter indicates litigation may be in the offing.

The AIA is hearing only snippets of this practice and is uncertain how prevalent it might be. No suits have been filed to indicate the depth or seriousness of these claims. The facts are still being collected.

“Ideally, one would expect the copier/scanner manufacturers to take the lead in challenging the infringement claims,” the AIA’s note stated. “The manufacturers are aware of the issues, but have been slow to respond. It has been suggested — although we cannot confirm this approach ourselves — that any businesses who receive an infringement letter should contact the appropriate manufacturer and ask to be indemnified if sued.”

If you have questions or would like to discuss the situation, or if you have information to share, please contact Jay Stephens, general counsel, at the AIA.

Jay A. Stephens, Hon. AIA
Vice President and General Counsel
The American Institute of Architects
1735 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 626-7379

The AIA’s note indicates that the situation developed when a portfolio of patents were sold to another firm, which split those patents based upon its geographic and industry requirements. With the split, the rights to the patents also were reassigned.

Since December, small and medium-size firms were contacted through the pattern of patent infringement letters mentioned above.

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The post Carlton Abbott at Polegreen for Preservation Week appeared first on VSAIA.

VCA Launches New Website
In celebration of Architecture Week and the 8th anniversary of its public opening, the Virginia Center for Architecture announced today a redesign of its website. More>>

ARE Changes Coming the Summer
NCARB sets the record straight on a few rumors about pending ARE changes and shares what these changes mean for candidates. More>>

Highlights from ReadInform.com
Inform is conducting a reader survey, investigating the Context of Creation, and also breaks the news that Children Like to Go Outside.

ArchEx Call for Proposals Closes April 30
The deadline to submit a presentation proposal for Architecture Exchange East is in just a little over two weeks. More>>

Art by Architects Opens at the Virginia Center for Architecture
The Virginia Center for Architecture announced its Art by Architects exhibition, opening on Thursday, April 11, 2013. More>>

Prize for Design Research & Scholarship Deadline Soon
The Deadline for entries in the Prize for Design Research & Scholarship is May 3. More>>

Society Offers Aesthetics of Architectural Photography Webinar
What makes a good architectural photograph? Find out April 25. More>>

Beer + Design: Get IN Here
The Society’s fourth Beer + Design event takes place in Richmond on May 15. More>>

The post VSAIA News: April 2013 appeared first on VSAIA.

The site also has new address — architectureva.org. It will still be accessible though the www.virginiaarchitecture.org portal, however now users will also be able to access the site directly.

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